Time-fuse



F. A. SUTTON.

TIME FUSE.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. I2. |917.

1,385,759, Patented July 26, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

l /II' I F. A. suToN..

TIME FUSE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-12,4917.

1,385,759. Patented July 26, 1921. l

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- @wf/Qa@ a@ UNITED sTATEs WILLIAMS, 'AcTINGYcIi-IEF or 'oaDNA j ENGLAD, ASS-rencia'I vTo f Non, UNITED jSTATES ARMY, TRUSTEE. ,f

`TIME-FUSE;

To all whom'z't may concern.'` y v Be it known that I, FRANCIS ARTHUR SUT- TON, a *subject of the King of England, residing atLondon, England, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Time-F uses, of which vthe following lis a specification. Y. Y The subject of the present inventionis a time lfuse suitable for the projectiles of trenchv mortars or otherV forms of .shells which are required to explode at a .predetermined time afterpleaving the gun.

Thetime fuse now in` general use is eX- pensiverand it is necessary to employspecial' machinery in its production.' In some forms of shells-as, for instance, the cost and difhculty of manufacture are of less Vconsequence than extreme accuracy in timing, but in. otherishells, such asV the bombs thrown from trench mortars which can be vused in great numbers, eXtreme Vaccuracy of timing is not so important as facility of manufacture.

, A fusesometimes employed, which can be quickly and feasily made and which at the same time possesses a time adjustment-stiflicientlyaccurate for all practical purposes, comprises a tube ofsoft metal, or its equivalent, containing the fusev material fitted-.near the'iring cap in such l'a way that the latter Vmay be adjusted lengthwise of the tube. fOn

discharge of thefgun the vcap' is ignited and ignites the fuse through a hole in the tube atany point determinedv by the position selected for placing the cap. The fuse is fitted tothe shellor bomb so as to have its end incommunication with theusual detonating appliances.- The explosion may thus be timed by adjusting thepositIon-of the fulminatingrcap in accordance with the length* of the fuse or material which it is desired shall be -consumed before-the detonating device in the bomb is reached. 1 This fus@ has, however, this disadvantage, viz'., the envelop which incloses the fuse material is occasionally liable to choke the fuse when ,the bomb strikes the .ground insteadY of allowing it to burn freely to the end, and if this happens the fuse kis `extinguished .and i therel is nol explosion. Y

. According to my invention I employ a Vpsecond fuse, preferably of the Bickfo'rd. rubber type, crossing the lfirst fuse, Aso asto be i,Y nited `thereby v'after ,itr has burned some distance. This Secondfuse isY timed to reach the dstonatoz: of the bomb @fraction of a i.' Specification of Letters Patent.

, second shrapnel,

hQWeVef, fuse will place :slightly PATENT otros. FANCIS ATHUR SUTT'oNyo-F ILONDON i y i i :i

Y j .PatentedJiyaegfoa. Application iiledfoctoter 12,1191?. serial no. 196,189.- j 1 .Y

later vthan the iirst fuseifitheilatter Y later, but not suficientlyso tol be of much consequence. .n fr Two 'embodiments kI of theinvention are shown 1n the lannexed drawings as applied tothe nose of a projectile which'w'ill jcoI1- tain the explosive material.'- ings-:

on the line I;I of Fig. 2; 'f F 1g. 2 atransverseho'rizontaA sectional view, ktaken Von the line IIe-II', of Fig.`1;

Figi 3 .a ,plan -viewy 'taining the fuses; l i l Fig. 4: a vertical'sectional portion thereof. 'being "taken on the line IIT-*IV vof F ig.f2,. and the the -line 5 5 ofFig. 3;"

yFigure Vl' is a vertical sectionalview,'takrenv View, theupper In the* drawofthe basej plateY con. Y

lower portion-'Lon v Fig.. 5 aside elevation of the fusefwith the safety pin in` position; f

of fuse;- f"

.the line VIIIe-.VII of Fig. 6;

. Fig. 8. a horizontalsectional view, taken i -V e5 of the base-plate Y on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7;.Y Fig. 9 a top plan view containing the'fuse;

'.Fig. '10' a mer; andV .y Fig. 11. alike view of acts to perforate thefuse.

the punch which in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, a denotes a casting mounted on a .baSetandLICapabIe of being of the base t. This arrangement holds the Fig. 6 aside elevation .of-a'modified formhead and the opposite wall Y' Y fFig. 7 a vertical sectional -view,' -taken on- Perspective vview lof-l theV harn-f'jnr Referring lirst to theA constructionishOWn-.g

tion. The casting a isu'attachied to the base a springV c encirclingk the parts together ,while'permittingv a relative rotationl of the members pose of adjustment.

The main fuse is denoted by d and' may be said to comprise a tube of soft 'metalg'or its equivalent, containing the `requisite Y powder. or other materialv which will burn. r This a and forthepur- `n Y Y tube lies ina groove. or recess e formed in Y' Y the baseb. The major portion of the fuse is concentric with thejaXis of the structure' and is arranged adjacent thexedge of; the

base. From4 this circular .portion the/fuse whichy leads to a powder chamber f. As

vthe fuse d approaches this hole or ,openingit crosses a second fuse g, preferably of the. Bickford rubber covered type, enters chamber f through opening Fig. 3) and of the bomb evenif tube of the fuse d should guish the fuse on concussion with 'the Within the casting a. is a'V chamber z, in which is mounted aV sliding block z'. Said block contains a smallcartridge y' loaded with powder, which is slotted on its side, and isjnormallylpres'sed upward by means of a light spring k against the end of the chamber h which is nearest the nose of the castingA 0,. At the 'opposite endV of the chamber isXed a striker Z- There is also, near the same end offthechamber, a laterally-extending aperture mleading into ahole n in the casting or head al, the latter -hole being placed ata radius corresponding with that of the circular portion of the groove in which the fuse Z lies. By inserting a tool inthe hole n the fuse-d `may be pierced, and by turning the head or casting a on its base b the point of piercing may loe-selected at the desired distance from-.the end of the fuse d, so asto, determine the length ofthat portion of the fuse which is Vto burn, and consewhich will insure the explosion Y .quently-.fthe timingof the explosion.

v The head orV casting a is made hollow Vas "s provided with holes o for admitting air to the interior thereof, therebyforming an airchamber in thevfuse head and. facilitating the burning of the fuse d.

As will be seen upon reference to Fig.. 5, the head or`r casting L and the base b are graduated. In this instance the scale is formed upon the base and a mark upon the' head, so

that when the parts are relatively rotated the required timing of the fuse may be effected. When the partshave'been adjusted for such timing, the fuse 'd is pierced through .the hole n. This piercing may be done after the nose has bj'eenfscrewed onto: the shell or bomb." Y.

On being discharged lfrom the vgun Vor mortar`the rapid forward movement of the projectile will cause the block z', carrying the cartridge j, to retire against thepressure'of the spring 7c the fixed striker Z. vThis causes the cartridge to ignite, and the flash passing through the slot in the cartridge 'shell Aand aperture m -reachesfthe fuse (Z (which has been previously and ignites tliesame. The fuse* CZ` pierced) -willmcert'ainly 'burn as far as the fuseu g,

thereby igniting the latter and insuring a time explosion through such fuse y, even if ythe fuse cl itself should failto reach the powder chamber. v l i which alO f.

the melting of the metal f happen to extin-V v instance,

Vend ofa hammeror lever 7'.

and'bringsaid cartridge against' y For safety during 'p passing transversely through Vthe bloc; i,

is provided, which Yeasily drawn out when the projectile is to beused. y Y. `The, foregoing structure provides a time "fuse which is readily manufactured and :easily adjusted-.v y

- In Figs. 6to l0 inclusive l have shown the same general arrangement of ,headV and base, with twofuses, and the parts which are in .common are similarly lettered.y In this however, instead of piercing 'the fuse before'it isplaced in the gun or mortar an automatic piercing Vdevice is employed. The inner face of the is provided in which is seated the `rounded Said hammer extends transversely across the interior lof the head orcastin-g a` and is providedwith a centrally-disposedhub s having an lelongated opening therein through -whichfthe screw c passes. AV spring t surroundsthe screw., the lower end of thespring bearing upon the upper face ofthebase Z), while its opposite end'takes 'against the under face 'of thelever or the hub thereof. This spring i'sjlight but is suflicient to normallyhold-the lever in its elevated position.v At the free end the lever. `is providedwitha pin u which stands in line with an v,opening v formed Vin the upper wall of* a chamberedv portion of the head or casting a. Said chamber is designed to hold a fulminating cap fw, Awhich sta ds .directlybeneath the opening f0- and in line with the pin u, .while a punch :c (Fig. ll) underlies thefulminating cap and stands transporting, etc., a in` pin, however, jmay be head, or casting 1s VVslightly thickened `atone side and a recess g Vin line with the .fuse drbeneath the same.

Said punch (as will be seen uponV reference prongs or knives, adapted, when `forced downwardly through the explosion lof the fulmin'ating cap, tozpenetrate or puncture the fuse and permit the same tobe lighted through-the burning or'explosion of the cap. The headV or casting a may, as in the other instance, be adjusted relativelyV to the base b the fuse Z in order to determine-the portion of the fuse Vwhich is to be burned before the detonating charge-is reached. i l Asafety pin n will be employed,as under the"` other construction, said pin passing through the head and underlyingy the free end of the-hammer yor lever a Aand holding itl against accidmtalA downward movement. Said pin-is withdrawn prior to the placement of the shell in the gun or mortar, uponthe shell being projected from the gun the lever will set bach against the spring t and thepin lwwillpenetrate the 4fulminating' and to puncture the f so as to carry the cap and punch around over The two fuses, to Wit,`the lead-covered one andl that of the Bickford Vrubber covered type, lare shown in a slightly different arrangement from that disclosedin F ig. 3, but they cross over each other as in the other instance and function in the same manner.

- The construction of the fuse shown in Figs. 6 to 10 is also relatively simple and may.l

be cheaply manufactured and easily assemf bled. Y

1 It is to be understood that the mechanism shown inV4 Figs. 6 to 1l inclusive maybe em- Y ployed Where but a single fuse is present.,y

Having thus described my invention, Vwhat I claim is: Y Y

l. In a .time fuse, a plurality of fuses crossing` each other and leading to an eX- plosive charge common to both; andmeans vfor igniting one -of said fuses in advance of their point of crossing. j 2. In a time fuse, a plurality of fusesontacting at a point in advance of their inner ends which terminate in an explosionv cham- A 5 ber common to both; and means forpigniting ily melt; a second fuse of the rubber covered type contacting with the first fuse in ad-A vance of their inner ends, which ends ter- Y minate in an explosion chamber commonto both; and means for igniting the firstnamed fuse in advance of such point of contact. Y i

- 5. In a time fuse, the combination of a` head; a base; means for holding'said parts together While permitting relative rotative adjustment; a plurality of fuses carried by the base, said fuses contacting at a point in advance of their inner'ends, Which ends ter.L Y

minate in an explosion chamber common to both, and means for igniting' one of said fuses in advance of such point of contact.` 6. In a timefuse, lthe combination of a base; a head mounted thereon for rotative adjustment; a, fuse carried by said base and arranged With a portion thereof concentric vWith the axis of rotation of the head; a sec! ond fuse Vcarried by the base, said fuses contacting at a point'inadvance of their inner ends, which ends terminate in an explosion Vchamber common to both; and means carried by the head for ignit'ing the first-named Y fusel in advance of the' point off'contact of the same vvith'thek second fuse.

`7. In a timerfuse, the combinationv ofav`r`-r base, a head mounted thereon for rotative`vadjustment; a fusecarried by said base and'` arranged with a portion thereof'concentric WithVV the axis ofrotation of the head; a secj ond fuse carried'by the base, saidrfuseslcontacting at a poin'tinV advance of their inner ends, which ends yterminate in an explosion chamber common to both; vand a percussion mechanism carried by the head and adapted to ignite the first-named fuse.'

8. In a time fuse, the combination of base a head mounted thereon forrotative` adjustment;. a plurality of fuses crossing each other; a cutter carried by the head-in line With` one of said fuses; aV fulminating device overlying said cutter; and a hammer arranged inline With the fulminating device and adapted, upon impact, to explode said device and, thereby force the cutter into the fuse, rupturing the vsame and permitting 5 v i 85v ignition thereof. Y Y Y V Y 9. In a time fuse, the combination of ka base; ahead mounted thereon for rotative adjustment; a fuse carried by said base; a tubular cutter carried bythe head inline Withsaid fuse; affulminating cap overlying' said cutteryand a'spring sustained hammer s adapted, upon impact, to puncture and detonate Vvsaid cap. and to thereby force theV cutter into the fuse to rupture the same, and Y at the same time permitting the fuse to be ignited from cutter.

'said cap through the tubular 10.V In a time fuse, the combination ofva f base; a head mounted thereon for'rotative adjustmentya fuse carried by Vsaid'base; a tubular cutter carried Vby the headand overlying' the'fuse; a fulminating cap yoverlying the cutter; a hammer pivotally mounted Within the head, and a spring for normally holding the hammerin its elevated position:

11. In a time fuse,'thecoinbination of a base; aheadA mounted thereonV for rotative adjustment; -a fuse carried b yv said base andv arrangedvvithin. a portion thereof concenl-V tric with the aXisof rotation of the head; a

contacting at a point inadvance vof their inner ends; a tubular cuttercarried by the head in line with said first-namedl fuse; 'ag

fulminating .cap overlying 'said cutter;V a lever pivotally mounted in the head, the free 'end of the lever overlyingthe cap," and a spring serving normally to hold the lever in its elevated position.

In testimony Whereof,'v"I havey signed my:k

name to this s ecificatioii.

iio second fuse carried bythe base, said fuses Y Y FRAN is vARTHUR SUTTON. i i 

